Chip film processor

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for processing film chips without a darkroom comprising a developer for receiving film chips from a magazine and moving them through processing solutions. The developer has a pair of grooved guides that engage edges of film chips to guide them in loops that lead down into each tank of processing solution and up and over into the next tank. The developer also has motor driven belts with fingers that push the chips along the grooves.

[ 1 Jan. 23, 1973 Dorian..............................95/94 R X Brown cl al.... ....95/89 R ....95/39 R Johnson ....198/l68 .95/94 R X Great Britain............................95/94 ABSTRACT Apparatus for processing film chips without a darkroom comprising a developer for receiving film chips from a magazine and moving them through processing solutions. The developer has a pair of grooved guides 3,494,273 2/1970 Kampf et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-John M. l-Ioran Assistant ExaminerAlan A. Mathews Attorney-Lindenberg, Freilich & Wasserman United States Patent [1 1 Schmidt [54] CHIP FILM PROCESSOR [75] Inventor: GunterSchmidt,Malibu.Ca1if.

[73] Assignee: Production, Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 12, I970 [21] App1.No.: 79,798

[52] US. Cl. R, 95/89 R [51] Int. 3/12 [58] Field of Search .....95/89, 94; 198/168; 118/423, 118/424, 426, 428

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Snre p e omnl t hubh l n Vu .lsnm p g mm m .1 ms m eT c r m H 8 S u ftfi th S X. .m mw a CM w l mc M. h S femnw mo o .10 SHIFT. w d n re ww oh dm e n g g mn wa s a 1 n a eluh 1.1 0D. aa nlh ..aac

198/168 95/93 95/94 R ....95/89 R 95/94 R 95/94 R Schafler Pratt et al. Mastrosimone et al....

11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 OF 5 I 348 INVENTOR. g Y GUN-r52 SCHMIDT 308 w BY o6 322 7 7 MMVW PAIENIEDJAI 23 1915 SHEET 3 []F 5 INVENTOR. GOA/T512 SGHM/DT PMENIEDJM 23 I975 sum 4 or 5 INVENTOR. 1 GrU/UTEQ SaHM/oT QTToQ/JEYs PAIENIEDJMIZIJ 197a 3.712.206

sum 5 [IF 5 60/0 T52 Q'ECHM/DT INVENTOR.

BY ,1}. AA M WWW QTTOQ A EYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to film processing apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for developing individual film chips or sheets.

2. Description of the Prior Art Dental X-ray photographs are generally made using film packages that comprise a small chip of film surrounded by a protective covering. The developing of such film chips has generally required darkrooms, wherein the package was hand opened and the film chip dipped into tanks of processing chemicals. In dental offices that process their own film, the necessity for a darkroom results in a waste of space and in annoyance in performing operations in the dark. Apparatus of relatively simple construction and low cost, which enabled rapid and trouble-free dental film processing without the necessity for a darkroom, would be of great value in dental offices.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for processing dental film in an ordinary lighted room.

Another object is to provide simple and economical apparatus for automatically developing a film chip.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, film chip developing apparatus is provided which can receive a film chip from a device which strips away the protective covering or from a magazine that holds already-stripped film chips, and can move it through several tanks containing processing solutions to develop the image on the chip. The apparatus protects the chip from ambient light so that all steps can be performed in an ordinary lighted room.

The developing apparatus which receives a film chip I from a magazine has a loader fixture for receiving a light-tight magazine which contains a chip that is free of protective covering. Bosses are provided at the loader fixture which open the magazine cover and allow the film chip to fall into a transport assembly. The transport assembly comprises a pair of plates with grooves defining a continuous chip path along which the film chip moves. The path has several continuous loops, each loop carrying the film down into a tank filled with a processing chemical and then over into the next tank. Belts extend along each loop, each belt having a hook or finger that engages a film chip to move it along a portion of the path. A chip holder at the end of the path receives the developed film chip to facilitate its viewing.

The belts which move the chip along the path operate intermittently so that they are stationary during most of the time that the chip remains in a tank. When the belts move, they move at an appreciable speed, so that they stir up the solutions in the tanks. The apparatus is constructed so that the belts make a complete revolution prior to stopping with a chip in the tank, to assure that the chip is developed in an agitated solution.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view ofa film chip developing apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially broken perspective view of a magazine which can be used to feed a film chip into the developing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional-side view of the developing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the developing apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 5- 5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic diagram of a timing circuit for operating the developing apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of developing apparatus constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 7, showing the manner in which a belt finger engages a film chip;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the chip-holding magazine used with the apparatus of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 12 is a partial rear view of the developing apparatus of FIG. 7, showing the driving mechanism thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a developer processing apparatus 200 which can receive a small rectangular film chip from a magazine 18, move the chip through tanks of chemicals for the required periods of time to develop it, and insert the developed chip at 24E into a chip holder 202 ready for viewing. The processor 200 comprises a cabinet 204 with a control section 206 and an operating section 208. The operating section holds three tanks, 210,212 and 214, which are normally filled with developing, fixing, and washing solutions, respectively. A transport assembly 216 is positioned within the operating section 208 of the processor for carrying the film chip through the solutions in the tanks.

The transport assembly has a front plate 218 and a rear plate 220. The separation of the plates is less than the length of the tanks as measured from their fronts to their backs. The plates are divided by slots 221 into three sections 222, 224 and 226, the sections fitting into the three tanks 210, 212, and 214, respectively. The plates 218 and 220 have grooves that define a chip path along which the chip travels during processing. The path extends from the area where the magazine 18 is received, into three downwardly extending loops that bring it successively into the three tanks, and finally to the position of the chip holder 202. The control section 206 contains a motor 228 for powering the transport assembly, and various control components that govern the operation of the mechanism. A pair of covers 230 and 232 fit over the front of the cabinet to enable access to the sections for cleaning and repairs.

FIG. 3 shows the mechanism within the transport assembly which moves the film chip through the processing tanks. As shown in FIG. 5, the chip path is defined by two parallel guides in the form of a pair of grooves 234 and 236 in the plates 218 and 220. The chip path extends from the position where the chip is received, through the three tanks, and to the position where the developed chip is delivered. A chip is driven along portions of the path by three timing belts 238, 240 and 242. Each timing belt has one hook or finger, such as finger 244 on belt 238, that projects outwardly across the chip path. As a belt rotates, the finger 244 pushes a chip along a portion of the path. Two pairs of transfer rollers 246 and 248 engage the chip to move it from a path portion along one belt to a path portion along the next belt.

The transport assembly .is controlled so that the chip moves in steps along the chip path, stopping for a predetermined period at the bottom of the first tank 210 and again at the bottom of the second tank 212. Between such stationary periods, however, the belts move at a relatively rapid rate. The three belts 238, 240 and 242 are synchronized so that they all move together, and all move at the same speed. I

A film chip is loaded into the processing apparatus by inserting a film magazine 18 into a receiving housing 247 which is located at the beginning of the chip path. The insertion of the magazine into the housing causes bosses 249 within the housing to open alight sealing coverof the magazine. The magazine 18, which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, has a chip-holding chamber 20 with a light sealing cover 118. The cover has a pair of legs 124 on either side that are biased by springs 122 to urge the cover closed. However, when a boss enters an aperture 125 of the magazine and pushes against the legs 124, the cover is slid open and the film chip can fall out. When the magazine is inserted into the processor housing, the chip is released and falls down through an entrance opening 251 into the path defined by the grooves in the plates. The receiving housing serves as a shroud to shield the film chip against light.

When the chip is released, it falls down until it reaches a constricted path section 250.'The grooves are shallow at the constricted section so that the chip does not move freely therethrough, although it can be readily pushed therealong. This is accomplished by covering each groove along the constricted path section with a sheet of material. The film chip remains at the position 24A with its front end bearing against the constricted path portion 250. At this time, which is prior to the start of the apparatus, the finger 244 on the first belt 238 is located immediately below the constricted path section 250. After the magazine is inserted and the chip falls to position 24A, the operator starts the apparatus, as by pushing a start button 312. Each of the belts is then driven to make one revolution in a short period of time such as three seconds, and then all belts are stopped. During this first revolution, the finger 244 engages the film chip, only when the belt has made almost a complete revolution. As a result, the finger 244 moves the chip only from the position 24A to the position 248. At 248, however, the chip is entirely within the developing solution held in the tank 210, the tank having been filled to the level shown at 252.

After the required developing time, such as ten seconds, the transport assembly is re-energized and all belts rotate another turn at the same rapid speed as for the first revolution. During the second revolution, the finger 244 moves the film chip down around the first loop of the chip path, and into the first pair of transfer.

rollers 246. The first pair of rollers comprise an upper roller 254 and a lower roller 256, both of which are driven. The rollers are driven so they have a surface speed which is somewhat greater, such as 20% greater, than the speed of the belt 238. As a result, once the film chip is engaged between the rollers, its rear portion steps away" from the finger 244. This prevents mangling of the film chip as the finger 244 passes by the rollers.

The pair of rollers 246 moves the film chip from a position over the first tank 210 to the path portion which leads towards the bottom of the second tank 212. In addition to moving the film chip along the curved path portion, the rollers act as a squeegee to remove excess developer solution from the film chip and therefore prevent excessive contamination of the fixing solution in the next tank 212. As the belts continue to move through their second revolution, the film chip passes the rollers246 and falls down into the tank 212. A finger 258 on the second belt 240 immediately reaches the film chip and moves it to the position shown at 24C. At this point all of the belts have completed their second revolution, and the transport mechanism stops.

While the film chip is at 24C, the transport assembly remains stationary for a period, such as 45 seconds, which is required for the fixer solution in the tank 212 to act on the film chip emulsion. The apparatus is then energized again to cause the belts to make a third revolution. During the third revolution, the film chip is moved from the position 24C to the curved path portion at the pair of rollers 248. The pair of rollers, which comprise an upper roller 260 and a lower roller 262, act in the same way as the pair of rollers 246, in stepping the film chip away from the previous belt finger and movingit into the next tank. The film chip falls into the third tank 214 which is filledwith a washing solution. It is immediately engaged by a finger 264 on the third belt, the finger pushingthe chip through the washing solution and up into the position 24D. 2

At the position 24D, the film chip is held in a constricted path portion between the legs 266 of the chip holder 202. The film chip has now been completely developed, and the chip holder 202 can be pulled out to carry out the developed chip. The chip holder 202 is held in moderately tight engagement with the cabient by a pin 203, to prevent its upward movement as the chip is inserted between its legs.

The three belts 238, 240 and 242 are identical and all are driven simultaneously at the same speed for a distance of one revolution at a time. The belts are timing belts, with projections along their inner surface that engage sprockets on the belt driving sprocket wheel 286, 288, 290, 292, 294 and 296. The projections on the inside of the belts help to stir the solution in the tanks as the belts move therein. As mentioned above, each belt moves at a relatively rapidrate for a complete revolution, prior to stopping with a chip. As a result, the solutions are agitated just prior to the reception of a film chip. Such agitation of the developing and fixing solutions is important to assure that they operate with a predictable strength on the photographic emulsion. The use of grooves to guide the film chip along the chip path and the use of fingers to push the film chip along, assures that only the edges of the chip are in sliding contact with transport elements. The emulsion is delicate and ifit were in sliding contact with an element it might be damaged. The pairs of transfer rollers 246 and 248 do contact the emulsion; however the roller surfaces are not in sliding contact with the chip, but are only pressed thereagainst. This is assured by driving both of the rollers of each pair, as will be described below.

The motor 228 which operates the transport assembly delivers power through a driving gear 268 that projects into the operating section of the processor. This helps to separate the motor and timing mechanism from any spilled solutions in the operating section. As shown in FIG. 4, gear and belt driving assembly 270 mounted on the rear plate 220 of the transport assembly, transmits power to the finger driving belts and transfer rollers. The driving assembly includes gears 272, 274, 276 and 278 which are fixed to the same shafts as the transfer rollers 256, 254, 260 and 262, respectively. The gears 272 through 278 are all of the same size and are driven at the same speed. Two drive sprockets 280 and 282 and a gear 284 are fixed-to the drive sprockets 286, 288 and 290, respectively, shown in FIG. 3, which drive the belts that move the chips along the chip path. The other sprockets 292, 294 and 296, which hold the belts taut, are merely idler sprocket wheels. The driving gear 268, which is rotated by the motor, engages the first gear 272 to rotate the driving assembly. The driving assembly also includes idler pinions 298 and 300 and an idler gear and pulley arrangement 302 for transmitting power. A power belt 304 drives the drive sprockets 280 and 282 from the pulley arrangement 302.

The power belt 304 is of the same size as the three chip driving belts, and moves at the same speed and in synchronism with the chip driving belts. As a result, all four belts move, one revolution at a time, in synchronism. In order to assure rotation of the power belt 304 by only one revolution, a switch 306 is provided which has an operating lever 308 which lies adjacent to the power belt. A finger 310 on the power belt engages the lever to operate the switch 306. The switch 306 is connected to a timing mechanism within the control section of the processor. When the timing mechanism is started, as by pushing the start button 312, the motor is energized until the switch 306 is operated by reason of the engagement of the finger 310 with the switch lever.

When the finger 310 reaches the switch lever 308 to operate the switch, the motor 228 is de-energized for a predetermined time such as seconds, while the film chip is in the developer tank. After the ten second interval, the motor is again energized. The motor remains energized until the end of the second belt revolution, when the switch 306 is again operated by reason of contact of the finger 310 with the switch lever. The motor remains inactivated for a 45 second period while the film chip is in the fixer solution, and is then reactivated. After the third belt revolution, when the finger again operates the switch, the motor is deactivated indefinitely. The motor remains deactivated until the start button is pushed again, after a new film chip is loaded into the processor. Instead of the finger 310 on the power belt, any of a variety of switch operating means can be placed thereon. A finger, however, may be used so that all four timing belts are identical, and only one type of belt must be stocked for manufacture and repair of the apparatus.

Various timing circuits can be used to provide for the ten second and 45 second periods during which the motor 228 is de-energized. FIG. 6 is a simplified diagram of a timing apparatus which can be used. The circuit comprises a pair of switch contacts 320 and 322 which connect the motor 228 to a power source shown at 324. When the switch arm 308 is operated, the contacts 320 and 322 are separated and contacts 320 and 326 are engaged. Current then flows from a source 328 through a timing motor 330 which turns a cam 332.

The cam 332 is an electrically conductive plate which is grounded. It has an insulating layer on its cam surface, which is broken at three areas 334, 336 and 338. A pair of wipers 340 and 342 are disposed against the cam surface. The cam has an initial position shown in FIG. 13. After 45 seconds of rotation, the area 336 reaches the wiper 340. The wiper then activates a bypass relay 342, to connect together the output lines 344 and 346 of the relay. Currents for energizing the main motor 228 then flow through the output terminals of relay 342, bypassing the switch contacts 320 and 322, until the switch lever 308 is released. As soon as the switch lever is released and the bypass relay 342 is again opened, the timing motor 330 stops. At the next operation of switch lever 308, a 10 second delay occurs before the wiper 340 reaches cam area 334 and the main motor 228 is re-energized. After the third belt revolution, the cam area 338 reaches the other wiper 342, which operates a shut-down relay 348 that stops the operation of the motor 228 indefinitely. The shutdown relay can be operated to again connect the motor 228 and power supply 324, by depressing the start button 312 on the control section.

The processor 200 is generally utilized by leaving it continuously in a standby condition, wherein it is ready to accept and process a film chip. This requires that the solutions in the tanks be heated to operating temperatures. Heating pads, such as that shown at 314, which are coupled to a thermostatic control system (not shown), keep the solutions in the tanks at the proper temperatures. Typically, the developer and washing solutions in the tanks 210 and 214 are at F while the fixer in tank 212 is at F. These temperatures allow rapid processing of typical dental film chips, such as in a 60 second period. Generally, the timing mechanism is adjustable to accommodate different photographic emulsions.

The construction of the processor enables its rapid disassembly for cleaning or for changing of the solutions in the solution tanks. The covers 230 and 232 can be removed merely by pulling them out. The transport assembly 216 can then be removed by lifting it up. In order to assure properplacement during reassembly, slots 316 are formed in the cabinet walls to receive the upper portions of the plates 218 and 220 of the transport assembly. When the transport assembly is moved into place, the drive assembly thereon is automatically engaged with the driving gear 268. A rotary indicator 318 is provided on ,the control section, which rotates in three steps, to indicate the progress of development.

While the processor is well adapted for receiving film from a light-tight magazine to eliminate the need for a darkroom, it also can be used in a darkroom. In that case, the film chip package can be disassembled by hand. As another alternative, a stripper device which strips the protective covering from a film chip and releases the chip, can be coupled directly to the developer processor 200, eliminating the need for a magazine in the further handling apparatus used after the stripper apparatus. By employing a processor of larger size, the apparatus can be used with large film chips, which are more generally referred to as sheets of film. For different photographic emulsions, a different number of tanks than three may be used.

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate a processor constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, which is' designed to carry a film chip through several tanks without bending the chip and without bringing its surfaces into contact with rollers or the like. The processor includes a transport assembly 400 which guides and pushes film chips, and which can be received in a cabinet and operated by operating and control sections similar to those shown at 204, 206 and 208, respectively, in FIG. 1. The transport assembly includes guide tracks 402 mounted on the transport frame 403, which engage the edges of a film chip 24 to guide it in a multi-looped path into four tanks. In this case, the developer apparatus has four sections 404, 405, 406 and 407, for moving a film chip through developer, fix, hypo-eliminator, and wash solutions. A film chip which exits at 410 is moved through a dryer (not shown) which moves the chip in a manner similar to its movement through tanks of processing solutions.

The first section 404 of the processor includes a belt 412 with six fingers 414 equally spaced therealong. The belt extends around two sprocket wheels 416, 418 with sprockets that engage holes 420 in the belt to drive it. It may be noted that the fingers 414 do not extend from the outer face'of the belt, but extend from one edge of it, as also shown in FIG. 10.

The film chip moves alongstraight track sections in a manner similar to its movement along the tracks of the processor of FIG. 1. However, at curves in its looped path, the film chip is not forced to bend. As shown in FIG. 8 for the film chip at 246, one side 420 of the track has a smaller radius of curvature than the other side 422. Both sides 420 and 422 of the track are curved about, or concentric with an axis 424 (which is also the axis of the sprocket wheel 418) the grooves at the curved track portion are positioned so that one groove at side 422 faces the axis 424 while the other groove at side 420 faces away from the axis 424. As a result, the film chip 240 moving along the curve is oriented so that a line 426 that is normal to the faces of the film chip is parallel to the axis 424 about which the ,track is curved. This may be contrasted with the processor of FIG. I, wherein the film chip moving along the curved regions is oriented so that a line normal to the faces of the chip is perpendicular to the axis about which the track is curved. The fact that the film chip is not bent decreases the possibility that it may be damaged or the possibility of it binding in the tracks, particularly where the chip is constructed of a relatively stiff material.

At the top of each looped track section, where the film chip is transferred from one of the four sections 404407 to the next one, the chip is also guided so that no bending occurs. While it would be possible to employ one long belt that extended along the multi-looped path of the chip, several belts are provided, and the chip must be transferred from one belt to the next. Such transferance is accomplished by four transfer fingers 428 each of which is fixed to one of four shafts 430, 431, 432, and 433 that are rotatably mounted on the transport assembly frame. Each shaft such as shaft 430 remains stationary most of the time, with its finger 428 extending downwardly out of the path of film chips. However, when a film chip stops near the upper curve in the track, for transferance from the first section 404 to the second section 405, the shaft 430 rotates. The transfer finger 428 then moves in a circle, pushing the film chip along the upper curve that brings the chip to the next track portion, where it can be engaged by a finger on a belt 436 which moves along the second section 405 of the processor. It may be noted that there are several short gaps 438 in the chip-guiding track near the top loops of its path, which are provided to pass the fingers 414 of the belt and the transfer fingers 428. However, these gaps are small enough that they are smoothly passed over by the film chip.

The processor may be utilized in connection with a magazine 440 that holds several chips to be processed. The processing of a chip begins when it drops through an entrance aperture 442 in the transport frame 403 and falls along the film-guiding track 402. At that time, the belt 412 is stationary and at a position wherein one finger is at position 414F to stop the chip from falling down too far. The finger at 414F is at a position which is just above the level of fluid in a developer tank into which the first section 404 of the processor is normally held. The belt412 then advances in the direction of arrow 444 so that the finger at 414F moves down and the film chip can fall into the developer solution. When the belt rotates, it advances by one-sixth of a turn so that each of the six belt fingers advancesto the position previously occupied by a belt finger. If the chip does not fall freely along the tracks, then the next finger along the belt will push it down. After several seconds during which the belt is stationary, it advances another one-sixth turn. This continues until the chip has moved down into the first tank and then up out of the first tank to a position at 24H. The shaft 430 then makes one complete revolution so that the transfer finger 428 thereon pushes the film chip at 24H around the top of the loop and into a track section which is in line with fingers of the second belt 436. Fingers of the second belt 436 can thereafter push the film chip down into the next tank. This manner of chip advancement continues until the chip finally exits at 410 into the dryer.

The transport 400 operates by rotating all four of the upper sprocket wheels 416 together and stopping them together. Such advancement may occur at intervals such as every 7 seconds, so that after every 7 seconds each of the belts rotates by one-sixth turn and stops (the belt of section 406 is shorter, has only four fingers, and rotates by one-fourth turn). During the interval when the belts are stopped, all four transfer shafts 430-433 rotate once to move their transfer fingers 428 in one revolution. Thus, film chips can be fed into the processor through the opening 442 at intervals of 7 seconds. The chips then move in sequence through the four tanks and into the dryer, all chips advancing simultaneously every 7 seconds. A chip that enters the processor will emerge fully developed several minutes later. If chips are fed in through opening 442 at intervals of 7 seconds, then after several minutes the developed chips will exit at intervals of 7 seconds.

The magazine 440 is designed to hold a large number of film chips, such as 30 of them and to release them at intervals such as 7 seconds so they can fall through the opening 442 in the processor. As shown in FIG. 11, the magazine includes a housing 446 with a cover 448 and a chip holder 450 that is slidably mounted therein. The holder 450 has a gear rack 452 that is engaged with a gear 454 that is rotatably mounted on the processor frame 403. When the gear 454 turns in the direction of arrow 456, it advances the chip holder in the direction of arrow 458. The gear 456 is driven to advance a small distance every 7 seconds, so that successive film chips 24 are brought to a position over an opening 460 in the magazine housing. A chip which is moved over the opening 460 immediately falls down therethrough and into the entrance opening 442 in the processor housing.

A variety of driving mechanisms can be utilized to turn the sprocket wheels 416 that drive the four belts, turn the shafts 430-433 that move the transport fingers, and turn the gear 454 that moves the magazine. FlG. 12 is a partial simplified view of one mechanism which includes a motor 462 that drives a belt 464 which drives a geneva movement 466. The geneva movement is coupled to the sprocket wheel 416 that drives the first fingered belt and to the first transfer shaft 430 The geneva movement 466 includes a drive wheel 468 that can move two driven wheels 470 and 472. The drive wheel 468 rotates once every seven seconds, and a cam 474 thereon alternately engages slots in arms of the driven wheels 470 and 472.to rotate them intermittently. The wheel 470 is coupled by gears to the sprocket wheel 416 to rotate it briefly once every 7 seconds, while the other driven wheel 472 is coupled by gears to the transfer shaft 430 to rotate it once every 7 seconds. The driven wheel 472 is also coupled by a gear train, indicated by the line 476, to the gear 454 that advances the magazine. Thus, a relatively simple drive train can be utilized to operate the magazine driving mechanism, the belts whose fingers advance the film into and out of each of four tanks, and the transfer fingers that move the chips from each processor section to the next section.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for processing a film chip having opposite edge portions comprising:

means defining a pair of parallel grooves that face one another for engaging said opposite edge portions of said film chip, the distance between said grooves being greater than the width of either of said grooves, to guide a film chip whose width, as measured between opposite side edges, is greater than its thickness as measured between opposite faces;

Finger means moveable in a finger path that extends along at least a portion of said grooves for engaging a rear portion of said chip to push it along said grooves so that the film chip slides along said grooves; and

means for driving said finger means along said finger path;

said grooves including a curved region where at least one of said grooves is curved about an imaginary axis to change the direction of film chip movement, said curved portion of said groove being positioned so the groove faces said imaginary axis to orient a film chip moving therealong so that a line normal to is faces is substantially parallel to said imaginary axis about which said groove portion is curved, whereby to substantially eliminate bending of the chip at'the curved region.

2. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solution comprising:

means defining a sheet path which includes a plurality of loop portions, each leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite edge portions of said sheet of film:

finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path;

a plurality of belt drive means, each including first pulley means at the bottom of a loop portion, second pulley means above said first pulley means, and belt means engaged with said finger means and extending about said first and second pulley means to drive said finger means along a portion of said path;

a pair of transfer rollers disposed on opposite sides of said path at a position between succeeding loop portions of said path;

means for driving at least one of said pulley means ofeach of said belt drive means to move the belt means thereof at a predetermined speed; and

means for driving said transfer rollers at a greater surface speed than said predetermined speed of said belt means.

3. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solutions comprising:

means defining a sheet path which includes a plurality of loop portions, each leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite edge portions of said sheet of film;

Finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path;

a plurality of belt drive means, each including first pulley means at the bottom of a loop portion, second pulley means above said first pulley means, and belt means engaged with said finger means, said belt means extending about said first and second pulley means;

said means defining a sheet path defining substan tially arcuate transfer curves at the top of a plurality of said loop portions for guiding said sheet of film from a path portion extending along one belt to a path portion extending along another belt;

a plurality of transfer finger means, each mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at the center of one of said transfer curves, to move along said curves and push a sheet of film therealong; and

means for rotating said transfer finger means.

4. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solutions comprising:

means defining a sheet path which includes a substantially vertically extending initial portion where film sheets to be developed are received and a plurality of loop portions, each loop portion leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means defining a sheet path comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite-edge portions of said sheet of film;

finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path; and

driving means for driving said finger means along at least a portion of said path, said driving means being constructed to drive intermittently and to stop said finger means at a location along said initial portion wherein a rearward portion of said finger means is above the level of solution in the tank thereunder.

5. Apparatus for processing a chip of photographic film comprising:

stantially vertically along the lower end thereof to,

form a plurality of sections that are receptive at their lower portions in said tanks;

means defining a pair of parallel tracks in said plate means which form a chip path extending successively down into one of said sections, out of said section and around said slot between said section and the next adjacent section, and down into the next adjacent section; and

means for engaging a chip and moving it along said chip path.

6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said means for engaging a chip and moving it comprises a plurality of belt means, each extending along a path portion in one of said sections, and each including a finger fixed to the belt means for engaging a rear portion of the chip to push it along the path.

7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said means for engaging a chip and moving it comthe path; and includin means for simultaneous y rotating each of said belt means by a predetermined amount at a time and stopping each of said belt means for predetermined periods between said rotations.

8. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said track means comprise substantially V-shaped grooves formed in said plate means, whereby to prevent sliding contact with the faces of said chip.

9. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

The chip path portion at the bottom of at least one of said sections has substantially concentrically curved track portions which are of unequal radii of curvature and oriented to move a chip so that an imaginary line normal to the faces of the chip is substantially parallel to an imaginary axis about which said track portions are curved.

10. Apparatus for processing a chip of photographic film comprising:

a housing having a receiving portion for receiving a chip to be developed and an exit for delivering a developed chip;

first, second and third tanks disposed in said housing, each tank having an inside length between front and rear portions thereof greater than a predetermined distance;

a pair of plate means spaced apart so their outer faces are at a distance less than said predetermined distance, said plate means having a lower portion separated into at least three sections which are narrow enough for immersion in said tanks;

means defining a pair of grooves on the inner faces of said plate means for holding a chip, said grooves defining a chip path that extends down into each of said sections and up out of the section into the next section; I

a pair of pulley means associated with each of said sections, each pair of pulley means including a pulley means at the bottom of the section;

belt means disposed about each of said pairs of pulley means;

a finger mounted on each of said belt means to engage a film chip and move it along a portion of said chip path;

a pair of transfer rollers disposed between adjacent of said sections to carry a chip between said sections; and

means for driving said pulley means and said transfer rollers.

l l. The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein:

said chip path extends in a generally vertical direction between said receiving portion and the bottom of said first section, and includes a constricted portion above the level of said first tank for stopping the free fall of a chip received at said receiving portion. 

1. Apparatus for processing a film chip having opposite edge portions comprising: means defining a pair of parallel grooves that face one another for engaging said opposite edge portions of said film chip, the distance between said grooves being greater than the width of either of said grooves, to guide a film chip whose width, as measured between opposite side edges, is greater than its thickness as measured between opposite faces; Finger means moveable in a finger path that extends along at least a portion Of said grooves for engaging a rear portion of said chip to push it along said grooves so that the film chip slides along said grooves; and means for driving said finger means along said finger path; said grooves including a curved region where at least one of said grooves is curved about an imaginary axis to change the direction of film chip movement, said curved portion of said groove being positioned so the groove faces said imaginary axis to orient a film chip moving therealong so that a line normal to is faces is substantially parallel to said imaginary axis about which said groove portion is curved, whereby to substantially eliminate bending of the chip at the curved region.
 2. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solution comprising: means defining a sheet path which includes a plurality of loop portions, each leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite edge portions of said sheet of film: finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path; a plurality of belt drive means, each including first pulley means at the bottom of a loop portion, second pulley means above said first pulley means, and belt means engaged with said finger means and extending about said first and second pulley means to drive said finger means along a portion of said path; a pair of transfer rollers disposed on opposite sides of said path at a position between succeeding loop portions of said path; means for driving at least one of said pulley means of each of said belt drive means to move the belt means thereof at a predetermined speed; and means for driving said transfer rollers at a greater surface speed than said predetermined speed of said belt means.
 3. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solutions comprising: means defining a sheet path which includes a plurality of loop portions, each leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite edge portions of said sheet of film; Finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path; a plurality of belt drive means, each including first pulley means at the bottom of a loop portion, second pulley means above said first pulley means, and belt means engaged with said finger means, said belt means extending about said first and second pulley means; said means defining a sheet path defining substantially arcuate transfer curves at the top of a plurality of said loop portions for guiding said sheet of film from a path portion extending along one belt to a path portion extending along another belt; a plurality of transfer finger means, each mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at the center of one of said transfer curves, to move along said curves and push a sheet of film therealong; and means for rotating said transfer finger means.
 4. Apparatus for processing a sheet of film by moving it through tanks containing processing solutions comprising: means defining a sheet path which includes a substantially vertically extending initial portion where film sheets to be developed are received and a plurality of loop portions, each loop portion leading down into and up out of one of said tanks, said means defining a sheet path comprising a pair of parallel guide means extending along said path for engaging opposite edge portions of said sheet of film; finger means for engaging said sheet of film to move it along at least a portion of said path; and driving means for driving said finger means along at least a portion of said path, said driving means being constructed to drive intermittently and to stop said finger means at a location along said initial portion wheRein a rearward portion of said finger means is above the level of solution in the tank thereunder.
 5. Apparatus for processing a chip of photographic film comprising: a light-tight housing; means for holding a plurality of tanks in said housing, each tank having at least a predetermined length between a back and front thereof; transport means including substantially vertically extending plate means having slots extending substantially vertically along the lower end thereof to form a plurality of sections that are receptive at their lower portions in said tanks; means defining a pair of parallel tracks in said plate means which form a chip path extending successively down into one of said sections, out of said section and around said slot between said section and the next adjacent section, and down into the next adjacent section; and means for engaging a chip and moving it along said chip path.
 6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said means for engaging a chip and moving it comprises a plurality of belt means, each extending along a path portion in one of said sections, and each including a finger fixed to the belt means for engaging a rear portion of the chip to push it along the path.
 7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said means for engaging a chip and moving it comprises a plurality of belt means, each extending along a path portion in one of said sections, and each including a finger fixed to the belt means for engaging a rear portion of the chip to push it along the path; and including means for simultaneously rotating each of said belt means by a predetermined amount at a time and stopping each of said belt means for predetermined periods between said rotations.
 8. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: said track means comprise substantially V-shaped grooves formed in said plate means, whereby to prevent sliding contact with the faces of said chip.
 9. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein: The chip path portion at the bottom of at least one of said sections has substantially concentrically curved track portions which are of unequal radii of curvature and oriented to move a chip so that an imaginary line normal to the faces of the chip is substantially parallel to an imaginary axis about which said track portions are curved.
 10. Apparatus for processing a chip of photographic film comprising: a housing having a receiving portion for receiving a chip to be developed and an exit for delivering a developed chip; first, second and third tanks disposed in said housing, each tank having an inside length between front and rear portions thereof greater than a predetermined distance; a pair of plate means spaced apart so their outer faces are at a distance less than said predetermined distance, said plate means having a lower portion separated into at least three sections which are narrow enough for immersion in said tanks; means defining a pair of grooves on the inner faces of said plate means for holding a chip, said grooves defining a chip path that extends down into each of said sections and up out of the section into the next section; a pair of pulley means associated with each of said sections, each pair of pulley means including a pulley means at the bottom of the section; belt means disposed about each of said pairs of pulley means; a finger mounted on each of said belt means to engage a film chip and move it along a portion of said chip path; a pair of transfer rollers disposed between adjacent of said sections to carry a chip between said sections; and means for driving said pulley means and said transfer rollers.
 11. The apparatus described in claim 10 wherein: said chip path extends in a generally vertical direction between said receiving portion and the bottom of said first section, and includes a constricted portion above the level of said first tank for stopping the free fall of a chip received at saId receiving portion. 